In the last couple of days, Amaro's thoughts were filled with a blend of confusion and anticipation, whirlwinding inside his mind. He remembered all the times when he was a kid, when he would tell his mother he wanted a sibling - a sister, specifically -, almost as if he somehow knew he already had one out there. He knew it was a coincidence, but it still confused him a lot.

He thought of how in the hell he would tell his mom about Olivia.

Should he even tell her at all? Or just leave it be? After all, Olivia was not related to her, she was the daughter of the man who made her life a living hell for years, until she was able to walk away. He did tell Maria, however, as soon as he got home on that night he had confronted Olivia. She was as taken aback as he was with the revelation.

He was thinking a lot about all of it. How could they work as siblings? He had little to no practice on the subject, just like her.

All day he worked through his papers and documents, no street duty for him that afternoon and he was glad for that for the first time, for his attention was divided. He was making sure to double check everything exactly for that reason. He couldn't afford any mistakes.

It had been two days since Olivia had told him she was his half sister, and his head would go back in time to that night every minute. He was scared and happy and excited and sad, all at once. All the possibilities, the lost ones from the past and the promising future ones, were spinning like a whirlwind inside his heart - his emotions, like leaves being carried by that gale. He really wasn't one to be nostalgic all the time and keep looking back, but it was being hard not to, adding in those possibilities in the mix.

It was around the end of his shift when he got a text from her - they had decided to exchange numbers to keep in touch. " I have an idea. Meet me after work", s he wrote, followed by an address. He was intrigued, but he decided to do it without making questions.

A bit later, there he was in front of a burger joint. Olivia showed up five minutes after he did, walking down the street in a black coat and red cheeks with the cold night's air.

"Hey there.", she greeted.

"Hey, Olivia." he was unsure on what to do.

"I thought it was a bit risky calling you here, since I don't know anything about you. You could be vegetarian or something, but I decided to take a shot.", she said.

He could see she was nervous, but was trying to act as normally as she could. He smiled a little.

"No, you got it right. Burgers are my jam."

She replied with a little smile on her, too.

"Same here. Good start, I think."

Going inside the place, he saw it wasn't a fancy joint or anything, just a regular burger place. They picked a booth and ordered what they wanted.

"So, what was the idea you mentioned in your text?", he asked.

"Pretty much this." she gestured their surroundings with a small move of her hand. "Hanging out in places I liked to go as a kid. Starting on familiar grounds. I got the idea from a… previous situation I had."

He looked at her, intrigued by her vague words. She didn't want to mention right away that she had a girlfriend, but then she thought that maybe cutting to the chase would be the best in that situation - seeing how he would react to that would probably dictate how she would want to carry things from that moment on.

"I, hm... started dating a friend of mine last year. I was unsure on how to deal with it because we were friends for years before, but mostly because she's a woman."

"Oh… I see. That makes a lot of sense, then. Did you like to come here as a kid?"

Olivia's chest was filled with warm happiness and relief by his casual response. She took it as a very good sign as she carried on with the conversation.

"Unfortunately, the place I liked to go back in the day turned into an office building like, twenty years ago.", she chuckled. "But this one is close enough. I liked to go there with the few friends I had, just to hang out and have a good time. I thought that… maybe you would like that, too."

Nick thought that was really nice of her, trying to share some of her memories like that. Adorable, even. Olivia saw when a smile filled his expression.

"I think it's a great idea, really. I'd love to take you through some of my favorite places growing up, too." he replied. "That would be awesome."

That brand-new emotion moved inside her chest, making circles around her heart like a fuzzy kitten, making it feel lighter and brighter in a way that was totally new to her. She still couldn't name that emotion, but she already loved the feeling of it.

They were briefly interrupted by the person bringing their food - classic cheeseburgers, french fries and soda. They started eating, silence filling the space around them in a pleasant, strangely cozy manner.

"So, I need to make the important questions here", Nick started, picking another fry from his little basket. "you're ten years old, right? Strawberry or chocolate ice cream?"

Olivia chuckled, surprised in a positive way by the sudden quizz.

"Strawberry."

"Cap'n Crunch or Cocoa Puffs?"

"Oh, definitely Cap'n Crunch."

" Dukes of Hazzard or Little House on the Prairie ?

"Dukes."

" Looney Tunes or Hanna-Barbera ?"

He saw her laugh openly for the first time since they met.

"Come on, that one is vital." he said, joining her in her laughter.

"That's unfair, I can't just pick between Bugs Bunny and Jonny Quest like that."

Nick sat back, enjoying the moment with a playful smirk on.

"That's a really good point." he said, and then placed his elbows on the table, leaning against it as he added. "So, tell me more about you. How is it to be one of the most badass cops in the force right now?"

"Oh, come on, kiddo.", she laughed, visibly embarrassed. "Don't stretch it!"

It was the second time she would call him like that. In other occasions that word was used on him, it always came with condescending, hostile undertones. But that time it was different - it sounded light and affectionate, and he caught himself actually liking it with Olivia as the one saying it so naturally.

She then replied, telling him about her academic life, most of all. Graduating, going to the academy, joining the SVU around eight years before. He had no idea how in the hell she had endured such a division for so long. Putting drug dealers and mob gangs out of the streets was bad and violent and often ugly - especially if people had to infiltrate as undercover for months, or even years -, but he couldn't imagine how would that be, working daily with the type of investigations Olivia and her squad had to.

It wasn't a lie that everyone in the force had at least heard about her, and he always thought she definitely seemed like a great detective. However, seeing her in person and learning more about her, little by little made the fearless lioness-like hero that was the face of the Manhattan SVU look more like the human being she actually was. It was an interesting shift in his perception.

When Olivia finished, she asked the same to Amaro.

"I was just the regular boy, getting by at school until I started taking it more seriously, so I would be able to get into the academy later. And after that, not so different from you. Street cop, homicide detective; and now, narcotics."

"That's quite the list, actually."

"Still in progress."

She smiled.

"It always is, I guess. You've got a good start already."

It was his turn to feel his face burn a little. It was good to know he was doing it right - her opinion as a senior detective counted a lot to him. But maybe, he was also counting on her opinion as his older sister already, which was something odd to feel at that point where things were still so new - but it was also inevitable not to think like that.

" Are you serious? ", Casey said, her spring-colored eyes going wide with shock.

"It's like my life suddenly became some weird telenovela.", Olivia replied by her side.

Worry dwelled in Casey's expression, as Olivia caressed her hair.

"How are you about this, I mean… you have a half-brother. On your father's side."

"It is weird, I'm not gonna lie." she said. "But it's not being as bad as I was expecting it to be…?", she said.

After the dinner with Nick, Casey had called over, her current busy schedule finally allowing her some time to give Olivia proper attention. Usually, Liv would just hang out, but even that wasn't being possible lately.

Disclosing their relationship the previous year ended up with the ADA having to move to another division, as a safety measurement by their bosses. It was not the end of the world as they thought it would be at first - it was actually even better not having to worry all the time about conflict of interests, even if subconsciously. And they did have Alex Cabot back, which was always a plus.

On the other hand, now with Casey somewhere else dealing with white-collar crimes, they were seeing each other a bit less even with the change being for the best. It was nothing they couldn't deal with, and even being a bit more escarce now, Olivia was always happy finding herself laying in bed between her favorite big, red creatures, both of them being all cuddly and lovely.

Casey waited for her to elaborate her thoughts on Nick.

"At first when I found out about him, I thought it would be weird and that maybe he would be an asshole like my father was. I know it's stupid. I was projecting my feelings about my father on Nick without even knowing him yet." Olivia told her. "But turns out… bastard made sure to make his and his mother's life a living hell, too."

Casey turned around to fully look at her, resting her arm on Olivia's chest and her chin on her hand. Her brows were knitted together in a sad expression.

"That's terrible, Liv.", she said, softly. "I'm glad that you were able to find each other, nonetheless."

"Yeah… we decided to try to establish a connection. Let's see how it works."

"Just keep me in the loop."

Liv smiled at her and held her closer with her free arm - the other being used as a pillow by Flo.

"I will." she replied. "Nick's being okay so far. Even adorable, really."

"Well, he is your brother.", Casey teased.

Olivia clicked her tongue, pretending to be impatient with her cheesy-ness, a side smile on.

"I mean, I can see he wants this to work, too. And he liked my idea of visiting childhood spots and such to share our good memories. You know, as if we could have been there, back then."

Casey made an "awwwn" kind of face.

"That's so freaking cute, Liv."

"Can you stop it?", she giggled. As always, not wanting her to stop at all.

"I mean it this time."

"Are you saying you usually don't?", Olivia raised her brow at her.

"Usually you're just hot."

"Oh, I see."

Olivia leaned for a kiss, forgetting about Florence - who meowed thinly in protest -, as she moved her arm up to place her hand on Casey's face. They have been together for months now, but Olivia would never get enough of their soft, lovely kisses. Casey looked at her again, speaking with her husky voice in a little more than a whisper between them.

"Seriously, though. Let me know how things will unwrap with Nick."

"Don't worry." Olivia replied, knowing her request had more to it than it seemed - she was aware Casey was worried she would get hurt by expectations or if Amaro really turns out to be an idiot. "And if all goes well, I'll introduce you to him. I mean, his reaction was already a positive one when I said I was dating a woman."

"You told him already just to see his reaction?", Casey guessed.

"Yes, and I think that was a good decision."

"And outcome", she pointed out.

Olivia nodded with a little smile.

Casey didn't reply, but she cuddled Liv with a smile on her - she was really glad such a discovery was already being so promising in her girlfriend's life. More than anyone, Olivia really deserved it.